Heating Help

Insulating your home to save energy and stay warm in the winter months is an area we will all be familiar with. There are government grants and subsidies for cheap cavity wall insulation, double glazing incentives, boilers and more which are there for us all to take advantage of. Once the indoor aspect of your house’s heating is taken care of you do not have to leave it there by any means. There are lots of ways to help retain the heat in your house over winter and reduce your energy consumption by making changes outdoors too.

Landscape Gardening

Yes that’s right! Saving energy, being eco-friendly and green can be fun, especially if you love spending time in your garden.  Planting trees and shrubs around your garden to act as wind blocks is the first step because it creates a micro-climate around your house. In the winter they are your first line of insulation from the cold piercing winds and in the summer they provide shade from the heat of the sun which reduces the need to use electric fans or air conditioning.

Conservatory

It’s certainly a big step and not everyone can afford to build one or even have the space to build one but if you are considering building a conservatory then doing so will help insulate your home. Other than providing a splendid place to relax a conservatory also acts as a further buffer of insulation between your house and outdoors. Building a conservatory is quite simple and depending on the size most do not require any planning permission. The important part of the build is ensuring it is draft proof and air tight. If you already have a conservatory then make sure all the seals around your windows are fine and close any drafts you may find. To further the warmth of the conservatory and therefore your house, grow plants in there to help keep it warm by trapping the warm air. If large enough, you could install a grow box, sow vegetables and grow them in the conservatory over winter, which will help save on food bills. However it is advised that you make sure your conservatory heater is a modern economy electrical heater.

Solar panels

There is mixed opinion when it comes to the viability of solar panels but the truth of the matter is they produce energy. It should not be expected that the installation of solar panels will mean that the mains power can be switched off.  Particularly for those who live in areas that do not get much sun. But what solar panels can do is provide additional energy in the summer that can be off-set against the extra energy you will use in the winter. They essentially provide guilt free winter energy!

Green Roof’s

If you really want to go green then one of the best ways is to install a green roof. They have a multitude of green- and eco-friendly benefits on top of saving energy including creating a wildlife habitat. A green roof is a replacement of traditional slates or tiles for a living, growing, natural roof.  Acting as an extension to your existing roof structure the green roof has high-quality waterproofing, a drainage- and root-repellent system, filter layers and a light-weight soil or growing medium, in which plants and foliage can grow. The benefits are immense for the environment and your energy expenditure. They reduce heating, increase cooling in the summer, provide a habitat for wildlife, filter pollutants and CO2 out of the air, helping to reduce rates of disease such as asthma, and filter out pollutants and heavy metals from rainwater. They also can benefit you financially with tax incentives, reduce water bills because you don’t have to pay for drainage of surface water, increase property value and they save energy, and thus your money.

Insulating your home to save energy and stay warm in the winter months is an area we will all be familiar with. There are government grants and subsidies for cheap cavity wall insulation, double glazing incentives, boilers and more which are there for us all to take advantage of. Once the indoor aspect of your house’s heating is taken care of you do not have to leave it there by any means. There are lots of ways to help retain the heat in your house over winter and reduce your energy consumption by making changes outdoors too.

Landscape Gardening

Yes that’s right! Saving energy, being eco-friendly and green can be fun, especially if you love spending time in your garden.  Planting trees and shrubs around your garden to act as wind blocks is the first step because it creates a micro-climate around your house. In the winter they are your first line of insulation from the cold piercing winds and in the summer they provide shade from the heat of the sun which reduces the need to use electric fans or air conditioning.

Conservatory

It’s certainly a big step and not everyone can afford to build one or even have the space to build one but if you are considering building a conservatory then doing so will help insulate your home. Other than providing a splendid place to relax a conservatory also acts as a further buffer of insulation between your house and outdoors. Building a conservatory is quite simple and depending on the size most do not require any planning permission. The important part of the build is ensuring it is draft proof and air tight. If you already have a conservatory then make sure all the seals around your windows are fine and close any drafts you may find. To further the warmth of the conservatory and therefore your house, grow plants in there to help keep it warm by trapping the warm air. If large enough, you could install a grow box, sow vegetables and grow them in the conservatory over winter, which will help save on food bills. However it is advised that you make sure your conservatory heater is a modern economy electrical heater.

Solar panels

There is mixed opinion when it comes to the viability of solar panels but the truth of the matter is they produce energy. It should not be expected that the installation of solar panels will mean that the mains power can be switched off.  Particularly for those who live in areas that do not get much sun. But what solar panels can do is provide additional energy in the summer that can be off-set against the extra energy you will use in the winter. They essentially provide guilt free winter energy!

Green Roof’s

If you really want to go green then one of the best ways is to install a green roof. They have a multitude of green- and eco-friendly benefits on top of saving energy including creating a wildlife habitat. A green roof is a replacement of traditional slates or tiles for a living, growing, natural roof.  Acting as an extension to your existing roof structure the green roof has high-quality waterproofing, a drainage- and root-repellent system, filter layers and a light-weight soil or growing medium, in which plants and foliage can grow. The benefits are immense for the environment and your energy expenditure. They reduce heating, increase cooling in the summer, provide a habitat for wildlife, filter pollutants and CO2 out of the air, helping to reduce rates of disease such as asthma, and filter out pollutants and heavy metals from rainwater. They also can benefit you financially with tax incentives, reduce water bills because you don’t have to pay for drainage of surface water, increase property value and they save energy, and thus your money.